Page 33 of Discretion at Its Finest

“Don’t you think you’re overstepping your role here?” I murmured, finally meeting his eyes.

He tossed the book and pen down onto the table beside him, his hands resting in his pockets as he shrugged. “You tell me.”

I didn’t say anything.

“You’ve been off,” he continued.

“I haven’t.”

“You have,” he retorted. “The Reid I know wouldn’t have made the decision to take on his family’s failing business as an asset just to prove a point.”

“Then maybe you don’t know me.”

He scoffed. “I know you’re still not over what happened… still not over her.”

“Stating the obvious doesn’t do anything,” I argued.

“And you think finding out if you’re that kid’s father does?”

I didn’t say anything in response.

Alexander let out a sigh. “Let’s say you get the confirmation,” he continued. “He’s yours. She lied. Then what?”

“Then I make things right…”

“Publicly claiming your half-brother’s supposed son and reclaiming his fiancée for yourself makes for bad press, guaranteed.”

“I don’t care about the press.”

Alexander gave a short humorless laugh. “That’s what you say now. Wait until they drag your name through shit again. Every headline, every article—”

“I said I don’t care.”

“Going to these lengths can’t just be about revenge. If that kid is yours, what game are you playing? Nobody wins. You can’t just claim the title of being his father. You can’t just claim her.”

“You don’t think I know that?” I gritted out. “That’s not what I want.”

But Alexander’s words held the truth my mind ghosted over. It didn’t rationalize that part. Didn’t register that I probably couldn’t get what I wanted. But that didn’t matter.

“At this point, I don’t even think you know what the fuck you want.” His voice was sharper now. “You want to make her life a living hell but fill the role of the missing father in her kid’s life. Punish her for lying, push her away, but keep her next to you and in your bed at the same time.”

His words landed like a slap to the face.

He was right. And I hated how fucking right he was.

“I’m not asking for your fucking opinion,” I said eventually, voice low.

“Didn’t realize I needed permission to give it,” Alexander muttered, crossing his arms.

Despite how good the fucker was at his job, he had pretty much always been a smartass when given ample opportunity. Only person able to tolerate me and my work.

“You’re spiraling, Reid. This isn’t about control, revenge or leverage. It’s about her.”

“I know it’s fucking about her,” I practically seethed. Every fucking thing had been about her. Every breath I took, thought I’d had, every single time I closed my eyes. It had always been about her.

“As your assistant, I will make the adjustments to have her on board with us… but as your friend, Reid… you need to think about these decisions. They may just lead to you being hurt again.”

Hurt.